When you’ve got a rifle or pistol that runs hard year after year without chewing through parts, that’s worth holding onto. Some platforms are built for abuse, and they stay functional long after others start needing extractors, springs, or pins replaced. If you don’t have time to babysit your gear or spend weekends replacing internals, these are the models that prove their worth. They’re not always flashy, but they flat-out work—and they keep working long after others start falling apart.
Glock 17
The Glock 17 is one of the few pistols you can shoot hard for years without opening it up beyond routine cleanings. It’s built with fewer parts than most and doesn’t need much babysitting to keep it running.
Even in rental ranges and police departments where these things see thousands of rounds a year, they rarely need major internal replacements. You’ll wear out the recoil spring eventually, but that’s nothing compared to other platforms that start chipping or locking up early.
Ruger 10/22
If you want a rimfire rifle that runs forever, the Ruger 10/22 keeps going without giving you headaches. The receiver and bolt can take years of weekend plinking without needing a new extractor, hammer, or firing pin.
It’s one of those guns that’ll go box after box of cheap ammo and still run well enough to train with or teach someone new. It’s also ridiculously easy to work on, but most owners never have to open it beyond a wipe-down and barrel swab.
Marlin 336
The old-school Marlin 336 has a well-earned reputation for reliability. As long as you’re feeding it decent .30-30 ammo and keeping it oiled, you’re not going to have to swap major parts for a long, long time.
The lever action system holds up well, even when it’s used in the field and stuffed behind truck seats. These rifles are still running decades after they left the factory, and unless it’s been abused, you won’t be chasing parts anytime soon.
Smith & Wesson M&P9
The M&P9 may not get the same hype as a Glock, but it’s proven itself in law enforcement and competition circles as a reliable, low-maintenance workhorse. It goes thousands of rounds without needing new internals.
The trigger spring might eventually lose some snap, but that’s typically after a heavy workload. Until then, this thing eats ammo and keeps spitting brass. It’s also backed by tons of real-world testing across departments who need guns that don’t flinch when lives are on the line.
CZ 75 SP-01
If you want a steel-frame pistol that won’t wear out fast, the CZ 75 SP-01 is one of the few that holds up like a tank. Its all-metal design soaks up recoil and doesn’t start loosening or chewing parts like some aluminum or polymer frames do.
The slide rails are internal, and the fit is tight—but it stays consistent even with thousands of rounds through it. It’s not a gun you’ll constantly need to tweak. With basic care, it’ll run hard for years.
AR-15 (Quality Build)
There are plenty of AR-15s out there, but a well-built one from BCM, Daniel Defense, or LMT can go years without needing anything more than a spring or gas ring swap. The key is proper staking, good materials, and a clean gas system.
When built right and lubed properly, the AR platform can take abuse and keep cycling reliably. You’ll eventually need to look at the bolt or extractor if you’re hammering it, but for most users, those issues won’t come up for tens of thousands of rounds.
Remington 870
The Remington 870, especially older Wingmasters and Police models, is about as set-it-and-forget-it as shotguns come. The steel receiver and minimal parts make it tough to kill.
You can slam shells through one for years without touching the internals. It’ll still lock up, eject clean, and cycle smoothly. The only thing that’ll wear out fast is the finish if you’re dragging it through brush—but that won’t stop it from firing when you need it.
FN FAL
The FN FAL earned its name as the “Right Arm of the Free World” because of its reliability, and that reputation holds today. These rifles run for decades with very little fuss.
You don’t see worn-out bolts or cracked receivers unless someone seriously mistreated it. The gas system is adjustable, and when dialed in, it handles grit, carbon, and bad ammo better than most semi-autos. It’s heavy, but it keeps going year after year without needing much attention.
H&K USP 45
The USP 45 is one of those pistols that looks overbuilt—and is. That’s part of why it goes so long without failures or part swaps. The recoil system is designed to reduce stress on the frame and internals.
It can run a steady diet of .45 ACP without battering itself to pieces. Even under suppressed use or long range sessions, these pistols hold up better than most. You may go years before even thinking about changing springs.
Savage 110
Savage 110 bolt actions have been around forever, and part of that is because they hold up. The floating bolt head design and solid barrel nut system keep everything tight and accurate without requiring constant adjustments.
Hunters especially like these because they’ll keep zero and cycle clean season after season. You don’t have to worry about cracked stocks, bent bolts, or worn extractors unless you’re abusing it. As far as long-term reliability, the 110 platform proves itself in the field every year.
*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.
